Target was just caught red-handed raising prices to fight fake advertising.
In a Reddit post shared to r/mildlyinfuriating, a familiar pattern was discovered: stores quietly jack up prices and then label them as “offers” to make shoppers feel like they’re saving money.
The customer posted a photo of chocolate bars that had recently increased in price and then been reduced in price due to an alleged sale.
Photo credit: Reddit
“I noticed Target raised their prices so they could have a ‘sale,'” the user wrote, showing how a $3.39 item was suddenly priced at $4.59 and then “discounted” to $3.67.
“These companies believe consumers are stupid, forgetful, and easily deceived,” one commenter wrote, emphasizing that money-grabbing tactics actually only erode customer trust.
Some commenters noted that this tactic appears to be rolled out during major shopping events, especially Black Friday, when customers expect deals.
One commenter said: “Yes, there are some gimmicky items at really unbelievable prices (albeit always in very limited quantities), but most items are marked up in the days and weeks leading up to Black Friday so that the ‘deal’ is the standard price, or in some cases higher than the standard price.”
The frustrations echo concerns raised in previous reports of questionable retail practices.
Target employees were caught throwing away brand-new dolls as part of the store’s policy, sparking a debate over waste and transparency. Grocery shoppers are also paying more for grab-and-go salads that can be made by purchasing fresh produce at cheaper prices. Shoppers at Five Below similarly accused the retailer of using manipulative signage, inducing a “phobia of missing out” and “brainwashing” customers into making impulse purchases.
These strategies create unnecessary waste. When shoppers buy items simply because they are on sale, the products often sit unused and end up in landfills. Combined with deceptive in-store marketing and unnecessary packaging, misleading pricing becomes part of a wider pattern of wasteful corporate behaviour.
When consumers can’t trust their stores, they’re forced to double-check constantly or take their business elsewhere.
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